Improvement in metallic cans



0. GREEN & W. WILSON, J1,

' SMSM Metallic Gan.

Patented July 8; 1879..

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES GREEN AND WILLIAM WILSON, JR, OF E ILMINGTON, DEL.

IMPROVEMENT IN METALLIC CANS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 217,211, dated J nly 8,1879; application filed May 29, 1878.

To all whom it may concern :v

Be it known that we, CHARLES GREEN and WILLIAM WILSON, Jr., both ofilmington, in the State of Delaware, haveinvented anew and usefulImprovement in Metallic Cans, of which we do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and precise description.

Our invention relates to the class of cans which are employed for thehermetical inclosing of paints, preserves, meats, vegetables, oysters,and the like, and which are known as easy-opening cans, and it belongsto the subdivision thereof known as knockdown-cans, in which opening iseffected by driving down the cover to fracture the solder joint.

It consists substantially as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents, in perspective and inpartial section, a can embodying our invention. Fig. 2 representsthesame in transverse sectional elevation, the can being scaled up andready for opening; and Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same underprocess of opening.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A is the body of the can, represented of rectangularconfiguration, but capable of being made of any desired shape circular,polygonal, or square.

B is an inwardly-projecting ledge at an approximate right angle to thesides of the can, either attached to or turned in as an integral portionof the sides, and surrounding the ori- ,fice or mouth of the can, uponthe inside thereof.

b are slits or openings in the flange B. Any number of these maybeemployed. In the form of can represented one at each corner is used.These openings, whether softsoldered or not, permit the parts of theflange and the cover itself to descend, and have the effect ofseparating the flange into divisions.

G is the cover, provided with a rim, D, of outline correspondent withthe outline of the mouth of the can, and of size sufficiently largerthan the actual opening in the mouth of the can to enable the rim torest upon the inner edge of the ledge B, and to be secured thereto bysolder, as at Gin Fig. 2.

O is a guard of stiif metal, being either a part of or secured to thebody at its top portion, and embracing the same in such manner as totorma chine, so to speak, extending slightly above the plane of the topof the cover.

Such being the construction of our invention, the can is opened bydriving down the cover in such manner as to bend in the ledge upon whichthe cover rests, as shown in Fig. 3, and by the leverage exertedthereupon in so doing fracture the solder, and thus permit the removalof the cover.

The function of the guard O is solely to prevent the accidental andpremature knocking down of the .top, it serving to protect the sealedand filled can in ordinary handling,

transportation, and storage.

Having thus described our invention, we claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States- 1. The combination of a can havinga mouth of less diameter'than that of its body, and having that portionin which the mouth is formed adapted to yield to downwardly-appliedforce, with a cover soldered to the portion so adapted, as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. The combination of a can having a mouth of less diameter than that ofits body, and having that portion in which the mouth is formed separatedinto divisions in order to yield to downwardly applied force, with acover soldered to the divided portions, as and for the purpose setforth.

3. The combination of a can having a mouth of less diameter than that ofits body, and having that portion in which the mouth is formed adaptedto yield to downwardly-applied force, with a cover resting on andsoldered to the upper side of said divided portions, as and for thepurpose set forth.

4. The combination of a can having a cover soldered to the can, andadapted to be knocked down in order to fracture the solder joint, with aguard attached to or forming a part of the can, and surrounding andprojecting above the cover, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of a can having a mouth of less diameter than that ofits body, and having that portion in which the mouth is formed adaptedto yield to downwardly-applied force, and having a cover soldered to theportion so adapted, with a guard attached v to or forming a part of the0&1],2LU(1 surrounding and projecting above the cover as and for thepurpose set forth. v

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names this 21st day ofMay, AJD. v

CHARLES GREEN. WM. WILSON, JR. In presence of- DAVID G. FERREY, ROBERT.LEITHERELL.

